By Laura Cromwell Starita<\/a><\/p>\n I<\/span>f there is anything gun owners can agree on, it\u2019s that purchasing a handgun for the first time can be daunting. Unlike buying a T-shirt or a piece of furniture, you can\u2019t simply take it back if it\u2019s not a good fit. Plus, not everyone gets to demo a firearm prior to purchase.<\/p>\n Dropping a few hundred dollars on a handgun that may or may not \u201cfeel right\u201d when in use quickly leads to buyer\u2019s remorse. I can speak from experience that my first handgun purchase \u2014 a lightweight revolver \u2014 kicks like a mule and I wince at even the thought of shooting it as an everyday carry gun.<\/p>\n This was more than a decade ago and the transaction still haunts me. Had I been given the chance to take it for a spin prior to spending a small fortune on it, I would have likely walked out of the gun store with a completely different handgun.<\/p>\n Luckily, there are many firearm retailers nowadays with an on-site range that have demo guns set aside for prospective gun buyers. These folks, in my opinion, have earned their place in Heaven for their service. <\/p>\n Recently, I had the itch to purchase a new concealed carry handgun since I didn\u2019t have a compact 9mm handgun in my possession.<\/p>\n Thankfully, I had the opportunity to try out the Springfield Hellcat. I was more than impressed and had this handgun been available when younger me was out shopping for guns the first time, this is the one I would have brought home.<\/p>\n For those that need some convincing, below are five reasons why a Springfield Hellcat should be your first handgun.<\/p>\n For starters, I can\u2019t say enough good things about the rear sights. The Tactical Rack U-Dot design neatly cups the bright tritium front sight for quick target acquisition. For those stuck with the square-shaped rear optics which (for some) take up precious milliseconds in lining up perfectly, this is an optimal alternative. A shooter is only as good as their aim, and anything that can seamlessly aid in hitting the target is impeccable in my book. The Springfield Hellcat sights<\/a> are really great.<\/p>\n That being said, I do have to mention the Hellcat\u2019s optics-ready OSP (Optical Sight Pistol) design. The slide is milled so shooters can easily mount a red dot sight if they so choose. For those who love customizing a firearm or who need added optics for either competitive shooting or better performance (or both), the Hellcat more than delivers.<\/p>\n At just 4 inches in height, 6 inches in length, and a mere 1 inch wide, the Hellcat could have been dubbed the \u201cHellkitten.\u201d Its slim profile prevents printing when carrying concealed and it hardly takes up room in items such as purses for off-body carry. Shooters of all hand sizes (especially ones with petite lady hands like yours truly) can feel comfortable drawing and holstering the Hellcat.<\/p>\n Live The Armory Life.<\/strong> The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly gun\u00a0giveaways!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Springfield Armory spent years designing this high-capacity micro compact 9mm and the design is a boon to the concealed carry handgun market.<\/p>\n I can\u2019t talk about the Hellcat\u2019s design without mentioning its textured grip and serrated slide. Aside from always minding the Four Rules of Gun Safety, maintaining a firm grip and control over a firearm should be at the forefront of every shooter\u2019s mind. The Springfield Hellcat grip<\/a> sports the unique Adaptive Grip Texture which amplifies your hold on the firearm. For those that get sweaty palms in high-pressure situations, the grip helps you rise to any challenge.<\/p>\n Textured grips aside, if there\u2019s one thing I wish all semiautomatic handguns had, it would be effective slide serrations. There\u2019s no shortage of handguns with slides that are hard for me to rack out there \u2014 if I have to ask for help when racking the slide, it won\u2019t be coming home with me. Springfield clearly thought of shooters that needed this \u201chelping hand\u201d when designing the Hellcat, and for this I will be eternally grateful.<\/p>\n For those of us that like having choices, you\u2019ll appreciate having the option of carrying an 11- or 13-round magazine. Compared to other micro compact 9mm handguns out there, the ammo capacity is generous. If you\u2019re relying on the Hellcat as an everyday carry gun, you can trust that you\u2019ve got serious backup at the ready.<\/p>\n Features aside, let\u2019s talk about how the Hellcat performs at the range! I\u2019ve shot many guns in my lifetime and this one is by far one of the more impressive 9mms that I\u2019ve handled.<\/p>\n I noticed right away how easy it was to maintain control of the Hellcat thanks to its textured grip and the trigger had a perfect pull \u2014 not too short and not too long. Personally, I hate hair triggers and I can\u2019t stand triggers that have too lengthy of a pull. Maybe it\u2019s a tactile preference, but that\u2019s my preference and I\u2019m not about to budge on that.<\/p>\n Upon discharge, it\u2019s evident that there\u2019s no shortage of \u201coomph\u201d with the Hellcat despite its small size. The Hellcat most certainly packs a punch, and it gave me added confidence that it most certainly would make an ideal CCW. As impressed as I was with the Tactical Rack U-Dot rear sight prior to shooting, I was blown away by how easy it allowed me to stay focused on my target.<\/p>\n So there you have it, folks. There are plenty of reasons to opt for the Springfield Hellcat \u2014 from its innovative sights and ergonomics to its compact size and optimal reliability. It\u2019s not easy to find a handgun that is a perfect blend of design and optimal function but somehow the team at Springfield managed to accomplish just that. If you\u2019re looking for a handgun that \u201cchecks all the boxes\u201d, you\u2019ve got it all with the Hellcat.<\/p>\n In short, if your local firearm retailer doesn\u2019t have a Hellcat in their inventory, do yourself a favor and turn around, walk out the door, and find a gun store that does.\u00a0<\/p>\n Editor\u2019s Note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the \u201cGo To Forum Thread\u201d link below to jump in!<\/em><\/p>\n Go to forum thread<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"author](\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/author-pulling-pistol-from-purse.jpg.webp)
\n<\/picture>Tactical Rack U-Dot Rear Sights & Optics-Ready Design<\/h2>\n
![\"Tactical](\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Tactical-Rack-rear-sight.jpg.webp)
\n<\/picture>Perfect Size for Concealed Carry<\/h2>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/themes\/thearmorylife\/img\/logo-tal-tm-icon.svg\"){kind=icon}
<\/p>\nInnovative Ergonomics<\/h2>\n
![\"Adaptive](\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Adaptive-Grip-Texture.jpg.webp)
\n<\/picture>Capable Ammo Capacity<\/h2>\n
Unbeatable Performance<\/h2>\n
![\"Hellcat](\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Hellcat-performance.jpg.webp)
\n<\/picture>Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n
Join the Discussion<\/span><\/h5>\n
Featured in this article<\/span><\/h5>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t9mm<\/sup><\/span><\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t![\"Hellcat\u00ae](\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/HC9319B.png\")
<\/p>\nHellcat\u00ae Series<\/span><\/h3>\n
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